Means of communication between aviators



G. S; THOMPSON.

MEANS or commumcmou BETWEEN AVIATORS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 15, 1918.

Patented July 22, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

1 INYENWR 460. Tfio'm/man,

.//4' ATTORNEY G. S. THOMPSON. MEANS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AVIATORS.

APPLICATION FILED OCTrIh, 1918- 1,3 1 0,81 0. Patented July 22, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY cnonen ,s. rnoiurson, or HOCKESSIN, DELAWARE.

means or COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AVIATOBS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Application filed Oc obe 1 1. 13. serial No- 58 33- To all whom it; may Concern:

Be it known that I, Snorer TH MP ON, a citizen o the United States, a d a residen of Hockessin, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have inve t d Q 1- taln new and useful Improvements in Means of Communication Between Aviators, of which the following is a. specification.

While applicable to various other uses and conditions my improvements are designed more particularly for the benefit of aviators as a means of communication, for instance, between a pilot and a machine companion during flight. It is well known that ordinary conversation through the atmosphere is practically impossible while traveling at high speed owing to air pressure and velocity, and Various devices have been devised to obviate this difliculty with in-- different results.

The main object of my invention is to effectually exclude extraneous air from a flexible speaking tube by the use of ear muffs and a mouth piece adapted to maintain air tight contactu al bearings around the ears of one aviator and the mouth of his companion, so that the vibrations of air within the tube caused by the voice of the speaker will be transmitted to the listener without interference, all as hereinafter fully set forth,the invention consisting in the specific combination and arrangement of parts described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1, is a view illustrating the practical application and use of my improved means of oral communication;

Fig. 2, is a general perspective of the apparatus spread apart for convenience of illustration Fig. 3, is a sectional detail of one of the ear shields;

Fig. 4, is a sectional detail of the speaking trumpet.

B, is a body belt to which the rigid bifurcated Y coupling C, is attached. The Y coupling C, is of course tubular, and its bifurcated branches 0, c, afiord means for connection with the lower ends of flexible tubes 6, e, the other extremities of which are connected with the ear shields E, E. The other member 0, of the Y coupling C, affords means for connection with one end of a flexible tube m, the other end of whi h ube is cwme t wit e pe k n tr mp t h el B, s prefe ably Pr i d wit a bracket clip 2, r the upp f h p ak g rumpe M, w en t e l t is ot required for actual use.

The body or funnel portion m, of the trlmipet M, is preferably formed of rigid material, but the mouth piece of, thereof is formed of elastic resilient material, preferably relatively soft rubber, so thatby press.- ing the outer edges m of said mouth piece m over the lips of the speaker and agailst the parts of the speakers face immediately adjacent to his lips, an air tight contactual connection may be established therewith, suflicient to exclude extraneous air even though the latter may be passing at relatively high velocity and pressure. To this end the outer edge m of the mouth piece m is shaped to conform approximately to the contour of the face of a speaker between the chin and nose, so that comparatively slight hand pressure applied to the trumpet M, will be sufficient to insure an air tight closure of the mouth m of the trumpet as related to the physiognomy of the speaker.

The ear pads or mufls E, E, are essentially circumscribing shields for the isolation of the ears of the pilot or other person to be communicated with,the main object being the exclusion of all extraneous air pressure, sounds, or vibrations, so that the words or signals transmitted from the trumpet M, through the tubes m, c, c, e, c, to the interior of the ear shields E, E, may be heard clearly and distinctly by the wearer and listener.

To this end the ear shields E, E, are connected together by a suspender 0r dome strap or straps e, c, and by chin straps e c and buckle 6 or equivalent fastening device, in such manner that said shields when properly positioned over the ears of the wearer, may be firmly secured, tightened, and held against the sides of the head so as to effectually inclose and protect the ears. Ordinary packing or padding of the shields will not sufiice to effect a perfectly satisfactory seal that will be impervious alike to sound and air pressure, and an essential feature of my invention consists in attaining this desideratum of a perfect contactual seal between shield and wearer by means of elastic resilient contactual pads or cushions 6 6 made to conform to and surround the ears of the wearer,and held taut and tight against the sides of the head by means of the chin straps e 6 and buckle 6 acting in conjunction with the suspender strap or straps 6. These elastic resilient cushions e 6, are preferably pneumatic in character, although rubber cushions with a fluid filling other than air might be substituted with like effect, so that I do not limit myself in this respect. In any event each circumscribing elastic resilient cushion 0*, is attached to a base plate 6 formed with a nipple e, for connection with one of the flexible tubes 6, as will be understood by reference more particularly to Fig. 3, of the drawings, by which it will be seen also that the inner side of the base plate 6 is preferably provided with a perforated pad of felt a, or equivalent material, for direct contact with the ear of the wearer.

Fig. 1, gives a general idea of the application and use of my improved appliance for transmitting speech from one person to another to the exclusion of all other sounds 'or stress of voice, as the complete exclusion of extraneous air and pressure renders even a whlsper audlble to the l1St6Il6I.- In attaining this perfection of result two of the essential features are the elastic resilient Copies of this patent may be obtained for mouth piece 117/, of the speaking trumpet and the elastic resilient cushions 6*, of the ear shields E. Other incidental features are important in rendering effective these two essential features, as for instance the bifurcated coupling C, and its flexible tubular connections. All combine in a unitary construction and arrangement of parts to afford an appliance rendering vocal communication possible under conditions that would otherwise be prohibitory.

it is to be understood that companion aviators, as a pilot and observer, gunner, or other passenger, are to be equipped alike with duplicate means of vocal communication,Fig. 1,.showing only one set of apparatus forconvenience of illustration.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Means for vocal communication substantially such as described, comprising ear shields, a speaking trumpet, a body belt, a tubular coupling piece attached to said belt, flexible tubes connecting the ends of said coupling with said ear shields, means for securing said ear shields upon the head of a listener, and a flexible tube connecting the other end of said coupling with said speaking trumpet.

GEORGE s. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

GEO. WM. MIATT,

DOROTHY MIATT.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0. 

